Tag: tesco

Tesco launches new augmented reality campaign for Halloween

| October 30, 2012

 Tesco teams with Engine Creative for Halloween campaign

UK retail giant Tesco has joined with Engine Creative, a leading digital advertising agency, to launch an augmented reality campaign for Halloween. Engine Creative has created several augmented reality features that will be used in Tesco advertisements in various news publications and in other marketing materials. The augmented reality experiences are designed to appeal to those with smart phones and similar mobile devices, hoping to draw the attention of tech-savvy consumers that are interested in interactive marketing experiences.

Augmented reality may be able to reach out to tech-savvy consumers

Augmented reality is becoming a powerful component in effective mobile marketing strategies. The technology has proven that it is able to engage consumers that rely on the mobile devices on a daily basis. Many of these consumers have shown themselves to be interested in interactive marketing initiatives, especially those that provide them with digital content or the possibility to find deals on products they love. Tesco believes that augmented reality will help expand the reach of its overall Halloween marketing efforts.Tesco Halloween Augmented Reality

Digital content can be unlocked using smart phones or tablets

One of the digital experiences created by Engine Creative is called “Trick or Treat.” This augmented reality experience allows consumers to turn themselves into a zombie or other kind of spooky creature when they scan advertisements for costumes from Tesco. Engine Creative has also developed various animations and 3D advertisements that can be unlocked using a smart phone or other mobile device. The advertising agency has a great deal of experience with augmented reality technology and may work on future campaigns with Tesco if the Halloween campaign proves successful.

Augmented reality may hold the key to winning over mobile consumers

Tesco is the latest in a growing number of retail companies that are turning to augmented reality to engage consumers. More consumers are becoming mobile, thus leading Tesco and others to find ways to interact with these consumers in a way they will respond to. Augmented reality is highly interactive, rewarding consumers that take the time to initiate digital contact. As such, the technology may be the key to winning the favor of a new generation of consumers.

Yihaodian uses augmented reality to open new virtual stores

| October 19, 2012

Yihaodian virtual stores

Yihaodian aims to open 1,000 virtual supermarkets throughout China

Yihaodian, a Chinese e-commerce company, has announced the opening of 1,000 virtual stores throughout China. These supermakers will inhabit empty spaces within cities, but will not have any physical products stored within. Yihaodian will make use of augmented reality in order to accomplish this task, enabling consumers to access a massive, interactive database of goods. Once completed, this will be the largest virtual shopping network of its kind in the world and could help spark similar initiatives in other countries.

Company hopes to exploit rampant popularity of augmented reality

Yihaodian is not the first company to attempt to establish a virtual marketplace in the real world. Others have made use of QR codes or NFC tags to accomplish this task in the past, but have been met with only modest and short-lived success. Yihaodian hopes to exploit the rampant popularity of augmented reality as a way to provide consumers with high quality service and ensure that the virtual supermarkets get the attention they need to become a success.

Unlimited Yihaodian stores to be stocked with digital goods

The supermarkets will be called Unlimited Yihaodian. The virtual stores will be located in 1,200 square meter rooms that will have a digital stock of over 1,000 items. Consumers will be able to see these products using a smart phone equipped with an augmented reality application. Purchases can be made using Yihaodian’s e-commerce platform, enabling consumers to skip long lines and get what they want in an efficient manner. Like other virtual stores, consumers will receive their products in the mail after purchase, usually the following day.

Yihaodian may succeed where others have failed

Yihaodian had attempted to bring virtual stores into the mainstream using QR codes. This endeavor proved informative, but largely fruitless. The United Kingdom’s Tesco had also launched a similar initiative in South Korea, where consumers were able to make use of QR codes to purchase products. This too was short-lived, with Tesco quickly taking down the virtual storefront and pursuing other avenues of e-commerce.